[Federal Register: June 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 37831-37837]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn05-85]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPT-2005-0011; FRL-7706-6]
Tribal Educational Outreach on Lead Poisoning and Baseline
Assessment of Tribal Children's Existing and Potential Exposure and
Risks Associated With Lead; Notice of Funds Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting grant proposals from Indian tribes to
support Tribal educational outreach and to conduct a baseline
assessment of Tribal children's existing and potential exposure to
lead. EPA is awarding grants which will provide approximately $1.2
million to Indian tribes to perform those activities and to encourage
Indian tribes to consider continuing such activities in the future.
This notice describes eligibility, activities, application procedures
and requirements, and evaluation criteria.
DATES: All grant proposals must be received on or before August 15,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Grant proposals must be submitted by mail. Please follow the
detailed instructions as provided in Unit IV.F. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact: Darlene Watford, Program
Assessment and Outreach Branch, National Program Chemicals Division
(7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 566-0516; e-mail address:
watford.darlene@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following listing provides certain key
information concerning the funding availability opportunity.
Overview
Federal agency name: Environmental Protection Agency.
Funding opportunity title: Tribal Educational Outreach on
Lead Poisoning and Baseline Assessment of Tribal Children's Existing
and Potential Exposure to Lead.
Announcement type: Notice of funds availability.
Funding opportunity number: FON-T002.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number:
66.715.
Dates: All grant proposals must be received on or before
August 15, 2005.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Authority
Section 10 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as
supplemented by Public Law No. 106-74, provides the authority for this
grant program. It authorizes EPA to award grants for the purpose of
conducting research, development, monitoring, education, training,
demonstrations, and studies necessary to carry out the purposes of the
Act. These funds are not eligible for use in a Performance Partnership
Agreement.
B. Program Description
1. Scope and purpose. The purpose of these grants is to support
Tribal lead educational outreach activities and the efforts of Indian
tribes to identify children's risks to lead by conducting a baseline
assessment of existing and/or potential lead exposures. The outreach
activities may be provided to children, parents, daycare providers, and
legal custodians on the potential health risks associated with lead
exposure. As a result of the baseline assessment activities, Tribes may
use the resulting data and information to evaluate whether there is a
need to develop and implement an authorized Tribal lead-based paint
program (40 CFR 745.324). The overall purpose of the grant program is
to have an increased number of Tribal communities educated in lead
poisoning prevention, a decreased number of Tribal children lead
poisoned, and an increased number of Tribal children tested for lead
[[Page 37832]]
poisoning. Projects are expected to be completed within 2 years of
award of the grant.
2. Activities to be funded. EPA will provide financial assistance
in the form of grants to Indian tribes or Tribal consortia to conduct
any or all of the following activities:
i. Educational outreach activities. EPA will provide financial
assistance in the form of grants to Indian tribes or Tribal consortia
to develop and conduct organized outreach efforts to educate Tribal
families about the dangers to children from exposure to lead-based
paint hazards, distribute educational information, and encourage Tribal
families to have their children screened for lead poisoning and have
their homes tested for lead hazards. Activities may include, but are
not limited to, training medical professionals, developing culturally
specific lead outreach materials, distributing pamphlets, and
establishing an in-home education program to visit the homes of young
Tribal children.
Tribes may develop their own outreach materials; however, the use
and reproduction of pre-existing products is strongly encouraged and
preferred. EPA is aware that many State, Tribal, and local departments
of health and environmental protection, as well as advocacy groups and
community development groups, have developed useful lead poisoning
prevention materials to conduct educational outreach activities. EPA
and other Federal agencies have developed, and currently provide, a
wide range of outreach materials available from the National Lead
Information Center (1-800-424-LEAD). Trained specialists at the Center
can help identify specific types of lead awareness materials that
already exist and thereby avoid spending the limited resources to
recreate these materials. Grant funding may be used to reproduce
existing lead educational outreach materials or to develop and
implement a lead poisoning awareness and prevention program. Any new
lead awareness materials developed must be consistent with the Federal
(EPA, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, formerly the Centers for
Disease Control)) lead hazard awareness and poisoning prevention
programs (http://www.epa.gov/lead/, http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/, and http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/lead.htm).
ii. Baseline assessment activities.
Conduct blood-lead screening of Tribal children age 6
years and under. For blood-lead screening activities, the focus should
be on Tribal children between the ages of 12-36 months because blood-
lead levels tend to be highest in this age group. More children in this
age group have blood-lead levels above the level of concern, >10
micrograms/deciliter ([mu]g/dL). The CDC's recommended level of concern
that encourages followup activities is 10 [mu]g/dL, with specific
actions/interventions recommended at various elevated blood-lead
levels. All blood-lead samples collected from Tribal children must be
analyzed using a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-
certified laboratory. Portable, hand-held blood-lead analyzers may be
used, but must be operated by a laboratory that is CLIA-certified for
moderately complex analysis. CLIA, published in 1992 (42 CFR part 405),
is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS,
formerly the Health Care Finance Administration). CLIA-certified
laboratories must successfully participate in a testing proficiency
program that is CLIA-approved. Information regarding CLIA may be
downloaded from the CMS web site at http://www.cms.gov/clia/.
Conduct inspections and risk assessments of pre-1978
Tribal housing and/or child-occupied facilities for lead-based paint
hazards. (Housing and facilities may be owned or occupied by Tribal
members.) This includes collection and analysis of paint, dust, and
soil samples for hazardous lead levels. Inspections and risk
assessments may only be conducted by individuals certified by EPA for
Indian country in the EPA Region where the Tribe is located or
certified by the recipient Tribe if the Tribe has received EPA program
authorization. Inspections and risk assessments must be conducted
according to the work practice standards found in 40 CFR 745.227 or
those of the authorized Tribal program. Analysis of paint, dust, and
soil samples must be conducted by a National Lead Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NLLAP)-recognized laboratory. EPA has
established the NLLAP to recognize laboratories that demonstrate the
ability to analyze paint chip, dust, or soil samples for lead. A
current list of NLLAP-recognized laboratories can be obtained by
calling the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.
Train workers to perform lead inspections and risk
assessments. Grant funds may be used for initial, refresher, or any
other training and/or third party testing required to obtain
certification (as discussed in Unit I.B.2.ii.) to perform lead-based
paint inspections and risk assessments. Grant funds cannot be used to
pay for any administrative fees for certification to conduct lead
inspections and/or risk assessments.
Compile and summarize demographic data collected from
activities listed in Unit I.B.2.ii. In order for Tribes to qualify for
other Federal funds for lead activities, sufficient data need to be
compiled and well organized. It is strongly recommended that Tribes
develop or use an existing data management system (manual or automated)
to collect and maintain the data collected during the project,
including laboratory results and data on followup cases for Tribal
children with elevated blood-lead levels. This information may be
essential in determining if Tribes have the capacity for a Tribal lead
program (40 CFR 745.324) and are eligible for other Federal funding for
lead activities. (An existing Tribal tracking system, Tribal Relational
Environmental Numeric Health Database System (TRENHDS), may be viewed
or downloaded from http://www.bluejaydata.com/trenhds.) It is
recommended that the data include: Tribe or Tribal consortium name and
location; an identifier that protects the privacy of the child; age of
housing in which the child resides; age of the child (in months);
gender; sample media (blood, soil, dust, or paint); date of sample
collection; method of sample collection (for blood samples indicate
whether method was capillary or venous); laboratory analysis method and
date; the levels of lead in blood (in micrograms per deciliter ([mu]g/
dL)), soil (in micrograms per gram ([mu]g/g)), dust (in micrograms per
square foot ([mu]g/ft2)), and paint (in [mu]g/g or
milligrams per centimeter square (mg/cm2)); the number of
homes and/or child-occupied facilities where risk assessments or
inspections were conducted; the number of paint, dust, and soil samples
collected; and possible exposure routes from other sources (such as
hobby materials, pottery, parent occupational exposure, special native
foods, medications) for each Tribal child screened.
Travel to conferences. Grant funds may be used to support
travel expenses and attendance of key Tribal lead program personnel at
EPA Regional and National Lead Conferences.
3. Goal and objectives. The objective of these grants is to support
Tribal lead educational outreach and the efforts of Indian tribes to
identify children's risks to lead by conducting a baseline assessment
of existing and/or potential lead exposures. The outreach activities
may be provided to children, parents, daycare providers, and legal
custodians on the potential health risks associated with lead exposure.
As a result of the
[[Page 37833]]
baseline assessment activities, Tribes may use the resulting data and
information to evaluate whether there is a need to develop and
implement an authorized Tribal lead-based paint program (40 CFR
745.324). Projects are expected to be completed within 2 years of award
of the grant.
II. Award Information
The funding for the selected projects will be in the form of
grants. The total funding available for awards in FY 2005 is
approximately $1.2 million.
Applicants may receive one grant for up to $75,000 for educational
outreach activities, or $50,000 for baseline assessment activities, or
$125,000 for a combined grant proposal for both educational outreach
and baseline assessment activities. Applicants must submit separate
budget breakdowns for educational outreach and baseline assessment
activities in combined grant proposals.
Final distribution of the funds will be dependent upon the number
of qualified applicants, Tribal populations served by each grant, and
other factors, as deemed appropriate by EPA (i.e., the evaluation
criteria as stated in Unit V.A.). Tribes may use a portion of the grant
funds for contractor support for these activities; however, contractor
support may not account for more than 25% of the amount of the grant,
except where contract services include blood-lead analysis, training,
and/or lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments). EPA reserves
the right to reject all proposals and make no awards under this
announcement.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Threshold Eligibility Factors
There are no threshold eligibility factors under this grant.
B. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration, proposals must come from
Federally Recognized Indian Tribes or Tribal consortia only. Failure to
meet this criteria will result in automatic disqualification of the
proposal for funding. Federally Recognized Indian Tribes are listed in
the Federal Register document published by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) on July 12, 2002 (67 FR 46327). There is no requirement that a
Tribe provide documentation that it meets the treatment in a manner
similar to a State (TAS) standard. After receiving two EPA awards under
this program, Tribes are not eligible for additional awards under this
grant program.
C. Cost Sharing or Matching
There are no requirements for matching funding under this grant
program.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package
There are no application or proposal packages. No application forms
are required to be submitted with the proposal.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
Proposals must be typewritten, unbound, stapled or clipped in the
upper left-hand corner, on white paper, and with page numbers.
Proposals must include a work plan(s) as described in this unit. The
work plan(s) may be for either educational outreach or baseline
assessment activities or a combination, including both activities.
However, only one proposal will be accepted from each Tribe or Tribal
consortia in response to this notice. Each work plan must be 4-6 typed
pages in length (excluding appendices). If a package consists of more
than five pages, the package will be considered but the additional
pages will not be reviewed. One page is one side of a single-spaced
typed page. Submit one original and three double-sided copies of the
proposal, including a contact name, return mailing address, and
telephone number. All proposals must include a work plan organized and
outlined as follows:
Section I.--Work Plan for Educational Outreach Grant Proposal
Title of project, table of contents, and summary.
Educational outreach activities. This section should
include, but not be limited to, the following items/activities:
Purpose, goal, and scope of the project; types of lead educational
material that will be used and/or reproduced; types, if any, of lead
educational materials that will be developed; distribution and
delivery plans; and percentage estimate of the number of Tribal
families who will receive the lead awareness information. The grant
proposal must include a statement which describes how the
effectiveness of the project will be determined. The proposal should
be consistent with the overall purpose of the grant program: To have
an increased number of Tribal communities educated in lead poisoning
prevention, a decreased number of Tribal children lead poisoned, and
an increased number of Tribal children tested for lead poisoning.
Project management. Include a description of staff
positions, roles, and responsibilities; a description of experience
in or potential to conduct activities described in section B;
efforts of partnership and collaboration with other local-health
agencies; extent of contractor support; schedule and/or a time line
showing the major activities and estimated time frames for
initiation and completion; and a budget summary.
Budget. Provide a reasonable budget that is clearly
identifiable with work plan activities.
Appendices. The appendices must be no more than 10
pages total and follow the same paging and spacing description as
provided in this outline.
-- Resumes of key personnel (also include title, description,
and reference name with telephone number) for work on previous or
current grants or contracts within the last 5 years).
-- Letters of support from Tribal representatives for Tribal
consortia. For individual Tribes, include a letter or resolution
from Tribal Council or Chairperson showing support for and
commitment to the project. (If it is not possible to obtain a
letter/resolution from the Tribal Council or Chairperson to submit
with your application, an interim letter of explanation must be
included with the application.) The letter/resolution will still be
required prior to award of the grant.
-- Detailed information on other lead-based paint or lead-
related activities conducted by the Tribe or Tribal consortium.
Section II.--Work Plan for Baseline Assessment Grant Proposal
Title of project, table of contents, and summary.
Baseline assessment activities. This section should
include the purpose, goal, and approach of the project. This section
should also include a discussion of the separate phases of the
project; the criteria for selecting properties to be inspected and/
or to have risk assessments performed and children screened; methods
to be used for data collection and quality control; and training and
certification of individuals to perform lead-based paint evaluation
activities. The grant proposal must include a statement which
describes how the effectiveness of the project will be determined.
EPA is extremely interested in knowing what actions Tribes plan to
follow regarding monitoring, education, and/or treatment for
children whose blood-lead levels are determined to be elevated (>10
[mu]g/dL) while screened under baseline assessment activities
conducted under this grant. It is important that the children who
are found to have elevated blood-lead levels are treated. A
description of specific steps and related information for followup
activities must be included in this section.
Project management. Include a description of staff
positions, roles, and responsibilities; a description of experience
in or potential to conduct activities described in section B;
efforts of partnership and collaboration with other local-health
agencies; extent of contractor support; schedule and/or time line
showing the major activities and estimated time frames for
initiation and completion; and a budget summary.
[[Page 37834]]
Budget. Provide a reasonable budget that is clearly
identifiable with work plan activities.
Appendices. The appendices must be no more than 10
pages total and follow the same paging and spacing description as
provided in this outline.
-- Resumes of key personnel (also include title, description,
and reference name with telephone number) for work on previous or
current grants or contracts with the Federal Government within the
last 5 years).
-- Letters of support from Tribal representatives for Tribal
consortia. For individual Tribes, include a letter or resolution
from Tribal Council or Chairperson showing support for and
commitment to the project. (If it is not possible to obtain a
letter/resolution from the Tribal Council or Chairperson to submit
with your application, an interim letter of explanation must be
included with the application.) The letter/resolution will still be
required prior to award of the grant.
-- Detailed information on other lead-based paint or lead-
related activities (if applicable).
The format for proposals submitted for combined baseline assessment
and outreach activities must include both Sections I and II above.
C. Submission Dates and Times
The deadline for EPA's receipt of grant proposals is 5 p.m. eastern
standard time on August 15, 2005.
D. Intergovernmental Review
Applicants should be aware that formal requests for assistance
(i.e., SF-424 and associated documentation) may be subject to
intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' Applicants should
contact their State's single point of contact (SPOC) for further
information. There is a list of these contacts at the following web
site: http://whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. However, Executive
Order 12372, does not apply to this assistance program since grant
proposals will be submitted in lieu of comments on developing this
program.
E. Funding Restrictions
Grant funding may not be used for the following:
1. Buying real property, such as land or buildings.
2. Lead hazard reduction activities, such as performing interim
controls or abatement (as defined in 40 CFR 745.223).
3. Construction activities, such as renovation, remodeling, or
building a structure.
4. Office equipment that costs more than 10% of the amount of the
grant, such as a copying machine or a color printer.
5. Analysis equipment in excess of 10% of the amount of the grant.
6. Lead-based paint certification fees for individuals and firms.
7. Contractor support in excess of 25% of the amount of the grant
award, except where contract services include blood-lead analysis,
training, and/or lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments.
8. Duplication of any lead-related activities that have been
previously funded by EPA, or other Federal Government sources.
9. Case-management costs, including treatment for Tribal children
with elevated blood-lead levels (e.g., followup visits by a doctor or
chelation therapy).
F. Other Submission Requirements
As indicated above, each proposal must include the original and
three double-sided copies. Include a contact name, return mailing
address, and telephone number on the proposal. Submit your proposal
using one of the following methods:
By mail to: Darlene Watford, Program Assessment and Outreach
Branch, National Program Chemicals Division (7404T), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
By overnight/express or courier delivery service to: Darlene
Watford, Program Assessment and Outreach Branch, National Program
Chemicals Division (7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
(OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
EPA West (Old Customs Bldg.), 4\th\ Floor Connecting Wing, Room 4355,
Washington, DC 20004-0001.
G. Confidential Business Information
Proposals should be clearly marked to indicate any information that
is to be considered confidential. EPA will make final confidentiality
decisions in accordance with Agency regulations in 40 CFR part 2,
subpart B. All proposals received under this notice are subject to the
dispute resolution process defined at 40 CFR 30.63 and part 31, subpart
F.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
All proposals will be reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by a selected
panel of EPA reviewers based on the following criteria and points:
1. Lead educational outreach--i. General (20 points). The overall
description of implementing the Tribal lead educational outreach
program in the proposal must address the scope and purpose of this
notice of funding availability as detailed in Unit I.B.1. It must
include reasonable and attainable goals and an approach that is clearly
detailed. The proposal must describe the method that will be used to
determine the effectiveness of the project. The proposal must provide
detailed information on all lead-based paint or lead-related
educational outreach activities for which the Tribe has received
funding from any Federal, State, or local government. If the Tribe has
conducted, or is currently working on a related project(s), a brief
description of those projects, funding sources, primary commitments,
and an indication as to whether those commitments were met must be
included in the grant proposal. The description must also indicate how
the proposed project is different from other funded work conducted by
the Tribe(s) or unfunded work conducted by another entity (e.g., Indian
Health Service, Superfund), and how the proposed project will not
duplicate previous or on-going projects. It is important to note that
funds cannot be awarded to conduct activities which have been
previously funded through any other Federal grant program.
ii. Educational outreach activities (40 points). The grant proposal
should fully describe the proposed educational outreach efforts for
Tribal Indian communities. The messages in the grant proposal should be
consistent with EPA/HUD/CDC lead-based paint program policies,
guidelines, regulations, and recommendations. The following elements
will be specifically evaluated:
Types of existing lead educational material to be used
and/or reproduced (i.e., reports, pamphlets, brochures, video tapes, CD
ROMs, etc.); types, if any, of lead awareness (educational) outreach
materials that will be developed.
Method of distribution of materials throughout the Tribal
population.
How the messages will be delivered, e.g., lecture, written
material distribution, one-on-one interviews.
Printing, special video taping, advertising (billboards,
posters, flyers), collaboration with radio or television, or other
methods used to reach the Tribal Indian population regarding the
outreach effort.
Estimate of the number of Tribal families who will receive
the lead awareness information; efforts that will be employed to target
hard-to-reach Tribal communities to inform families about childhood
lead poisoning and screening, if applicable; the number of
[[Page 37835]]
people/families/medical personnel/etc., who will be reached.
An indication as to whether the proposed educational
outreach materials and activities are suitable for the target audience
(i.e., appropriate language comprehension and cultural identification).
iii. Project management (30 points). The grant proposal should
describe the staff positions, roles, and responsibilities, and their
qualifications. The following elements will also be evaluated: Resumes
of key personnel; Tribal experience in or potential to conduct
activities such as those described in the ``Educational Outreach
Activities'' section; previous experience managing similar projects;
and availability of references; access to properly trained staff and
facilities to conduct the project; schedule for completing the project;
and the extent of activities to be performed by a contractor.
iv. Budget (10 points plus 5 bonus points). The evaluation will be
based on the extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clear,
and consistent with the intended use of the funds. Although matching
funds are not required, up to five bonus points will be given to grant
proposals indicating financial contributions and/or in-kind services
provided to the project.
2. Baseline assessment--i. General (20 points). The overall
description of the Tribal lead baseline assessment program will be
evaluated. The grant proposal must address the scope and purpose of
this notice as detailed in Unit I.B.1. It must include reasonable and
attainable goals and an approach that is clearly detailed. The proposal
must include a statement which describes how the effectiveness of the
project will be determined. The grant proposal must provide detailed
information on all lead-based paint or lead-related activities for
which the Tribe has received funding from any Federal, State, or local
government.
ii. Baseline assessment activities (40 points).
Blood-lead screening activities. The grant proposal will
be evaluated on the description of the sampling, collection, handling,
and analysis activities; the data collection and tracking system,
quality control measures; the description of the facility/facilities
where the blood-lead sampling will occur (i.e., school, library, health
department facility, clinic, private building, mobile van, etc.); and
the estimated number and a percentage estimate of the number of Tribal
children to be screened in the project. The evaluation will also be
based on the description of the method that will be used to solicit
maximum participation of Tribal children; the methods (i.e., printing,
video taping, collaboration with radio or television, etc.), to be used
to reach the Indian population regarding the blood-lead screening
effort; efforts to be used to ensure patient confidentiality; and a
description of how the CLIA standards will be met.
Inspection/risk assessment of Tribal housing. The proposal
will be evaluated on the description of residential/child occupied
properties that will undergo lead-based paint inspection and/or risk
assessment; the selection criteria used to identify the properties; the
description of methods used to reach Tribal population regarding lead
paint inspections and/or risk assessment efforts; the description of
inspection, risk assessment, and sampling and analysis procedures; the
qualifications of inspection personnel; and the description of
reporting procedures. All inspections and risk assessments must be
conducted according to the work practice standards found in 40 CFR
745.227 or those of an authorized Tribal program.
Paint, dust, and soil testing. The grant proposal
evaluation will be based on the description of the sampling,
collection, handling, and analysis activities; the description of the
data that will be collected, tracked, and reported to EPA; the quality
control measures implemented, including a description of how NLLAP-
recognized laboratories will be used for analysis.
Training. Use of EPA accredited training providers or
training providers approved by an EPA authorized State or Tribe for
risk assessments and inspections and use of inspectors and/or risk
assessors certified by EPA or by an EPA authorized State or Tribe.
iii. Project management (30 points). The grant proposal will be
evaluated based on the description of the staff positions, roles and
responsibilities, and their qualifications. The following elements will
also be evaluated: Resumes of key personnel; Tribal experience in or
potential to conduct activities such as those described in the
``Inspection/risk assessment of tribal housing,'' and ``Paint, dust,
and soil testing'' sections; previous experience managing similar
projects; and availability of references; access to properly trained
staff and facilities to conduct the project; schedule for completing
the project; and the extent of activities to be performed by a
contractor.
iv. Budget (10 points plus 5 bonus points). The evaluation will be
based on the extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clear,
and consistent with the intended use of the funds. Although matching
funds are not required, up to five bonus points will be given to grant
proposals indicating financial contributions and/or in-kind services
provided to the project.
B. Review and Selection Process
Award decisions will be made on the basis of the proposals.
Decisions on awarding the grant funds will be made based on the
evaluation of the proposals using the criteria specified in Unit V.A.
All proposals will be screened to ensure that they meet the eligibility
requirement as stated in Unit III. Those not meeting the requirement
will not be considered. EPA reserves the right to reject all proposals
and make no awards.
The lead educational outreach and baseline assessment proposals
(work plans) will be reviewed separately. The maximum rating score for
each proposal will be 105 points (five bonus points for in-kind
services). A Tribe or Tribal consortium that submits a combined
proposal (for both the lead educational outreach and baseline
assessment) may receive a grant for one, both, or none, depending on
evaluation and ranking. The final funding decision will be made from a
group of top rated proposals. The Agency reserves the right to reject
all proposals and make no awards.
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved
in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in the
Federal Register of January 26, 2005 (70 FR 3629) which can be found
at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/ 01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-1371.htm. Copies of these procedures may
also be requested by contacting the agency contact below.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
The appropriate EPA Regional Lead Coordinator will mail a
notification to the contact person identified in the proposal once all
proposals have been reviewed, evaluated, and ranked. An applicant whose
proposal is selected will be required to submit additional forms to EPA
for grant application (such as Standard Form SF-424, Application for
Federal Assistance). Specific information will be provided in the
written notification from EPA. In addition, successful applicants will
be required to certify that they have not been debarred or suspended
from participation in Federal assistance awards in accordance with 40
CFR part 32. The application forms are available on line at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/
[[Page 37836]]
AppKit/application.htm. These forms should not be submitted with the
proposals.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All environmental or health-related measurements or data generation
(such as activities in baseline assessment) must adequately address the
requirements of 40 CFR 31.45 relating to quality assurance/quality
control. Information on EPA quality assurance requirements may be
downloaded from the EPA Quality Staff web site at http://www.epa.gov/quality.
To begin the process of developing the quality assurance
documentation, a quality assurance project plan template has been
developed that may be helpful to use as a guide. The template may be
downloaded from the EPA/OPPT web site at http://www.epa.gov/lead/new.htm.
For further EPA guidance on preparation of the quality
documentation, please contact the appropriate EPA Regional Lead Contact
listed below in this unit.
Region I: (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont), Regional Contact: James M. Bryson, USEPA Region
I, One Congress St., Suite 1100 (CPT), Boston, MA 02114-0203, telephone
number: (617) 918-1524; fax number: (617) 918-1505; e-mail:
bryson.jamesm@epa.gov.
Region II: (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin
Islands), Regional Contact: Lou Bevilacqua, USEPA Region II, MS-225,
2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837, telephone number: (732) 321-
6671; fax number: (732) 321-6757; e-mail: bevilacqua.louis@epa.gov.
Region III: (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia, and the District of Columbia), Regional Contact: Demian
Ellis, USEPA Region III (3WC33), 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-
2029, telephone number: (215) 814-2088; fax number: (215) 814-3114; e-
mail: ellis.demian@epa.gov.
Region IV: (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), Regional Contact: Liz Wilde,
USEPA Region IV, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone
number: (404) 562-8528; fax number: (404) 562-8972; e-mail:
wilde.liz@epa.gov.
Region V: (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and
Wisconsin), Regional Contact: David Turpin, USEPA Region V (DT-8J), 77
W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604, telephone number: (312) 886-7836;
fax number: (312) 353-4788; e-mail: turpin.david@epa.gov.
Region VI: (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas),
Regional Contact: Eva Steele, USEPA Region VI, 1445 Ross Ave., 12\th\
Floor (6MD-RP), Dallas, TX 75202, telephone number: (214) 665-7211; fax
number: (214) 665-6762; e-mail: steele.eva@epa.gov.
Region VII: (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska), Regional
Contact: Larry Stafford, USEPA Region VII, ARTD/RALI, 901 North 5\th\,
Kansas City, KS 66101, telephone number: (913) 551-7394; fax number:
(931) 551-7065; e-mail: stafford.larry@epa.gov.
Region VIII: (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
and Wyoming), Regional Contact: Amanda Hasty, USEPA Region VIII, 999
18\th\ St., Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202, telephone number: (303) 312-
6966; fax number: (303) 312-6044; e-mail: hasty.amanda@epa.gov.
Region IX: (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa,
and Guam), Regional Contact: Nancy Oien, USEPA Region IX (CMD-4), 75
Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105, telephone number: (415) 927-
3780; fax number: (415) 947-3583; e-mail: oien.nancy@epa.gov.
Region X: (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), Regional
Contact: Barbara Ross, USEPA Region X, Solid Waste and Toxics Unit
(WCM-128), 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, telephone number: (206)
553-1985, fax: (206) 553-8509, e-mail: ross.barbara@epa.gov.
C. Statutory Authority and Executive Order Reviews
Section 10 of TSCA, as supplemented by Public Law 106-74,
authorizes EPA to award grants for the purpose of conducting research,
development, monitoring, education, training, demonstrations, and
studies necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act. Presently,
these funds are not eligible for use in a Performance Partnership
Agreement.
D. Reporting
The successful recipient must provide to EPA written progress
reports within 30 days after the end of each quarter and a final report
within 90 days after the end of the project periods. The specific
information contained in the report will include at a minimum, a
comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for
that period. The recipient must also submit annual financial reports to
EPA. EPA may require additional progress reports which will be listed
in the final award package.
VII. Agency Contacts
Darlene Watford, Program Assessment and Outreach Branch, National
Program Chemicals Division (7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-0516; e-mail
address: watford.darlene@epa.gov.
VIII. Other Information
A. Does This Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are a
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or Tribal consortium. For the
purposes of this notice, a partnership between two or more Federally
Recognized Indian Tribes is considered a consortium. Potentially
affected entities may include, but are not limited to:
American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribal Governments (921150).
Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining
whether this action might apply to certain entities. To determine
whether you or your business may be affected by this action, you should
carefully examine the Federal Register document published by the BIA on
July 12, 2002 (67 FR 46327), which lists all Federally Recognized
Indian Tribes. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action under docket identification (ID) number OPPT-2005-0011. The
official public docket consists of documents specifically referenced in
this action and other information related to this action. Although a
part of the official docket, the public docket does not include
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket is the
collection of materials that is available for public viewing at the EPA
Docket Center, Rm. B-102 Reading Room, EPA West, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The EPA
Docket Center Reading Room telephone number is (202) 566-1744 and the
telephone number for the OPPT Docket, which is
[[Page 37837]]
located in the EPA Docket Center, is (202) 566-0280.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to access the index
listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access
those documents in the public docket that are available electronically.
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through
the docket facility identified in Unit VIII.B.1. Once in the system,
select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
You may also access this document at the Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics Lead Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/lead/new.htm
.
C. Information on Related Lead Grant Program
This notice is one of two EPA grant opportunities to conduct
various lead-based paint activities. The second grant program, the
lead-based paint section 404(g) lead grant program (Solicitation of
Applications for Lead-Based Paint Program Grants; Notice of
Availability of Funds), was made available to all States and Tribes
through the EPA Regional Offices (see listing of EPA Offices under Unit
VI.B.). Although a Tribe may apply to receive grant funding from both
programs, they each have very distinct objectives. The grant program
opportunities described in this notice may serve as a precursor to, but
not as an equivalent or supplement to, the section 404(g) lead-based
paint grant program. The section 404(g) lead-based paint grant program
involves infrastructure development for the anticipated implementation
of a lead-based paint training and certification program and does not
include the activities (testing for lead in blood, paint, dust, or soil
samples, or the general educational outreach activities) listed in this
notice. Tribes may determine from the sample results and data
interpretation that they obtain from the grant program described in
this notice, that they have a need to develop a lead-based paint grant
program and may apply for section 404(g) grant funds. Alternatively, a
Tribe may decide that it is not in their best interest to pursue such a
training and certification oversight program. Tribes or Tribal
consortia with an EPA-approved lead-based paint program may become
eligible for other Federal funding opportunities for lead activities.
IX. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
Grant solicitations such as this are considered rules for the
purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).
The CRA generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes
a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report
containing this grant solicitation and other required information to
the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller
General of the United States prior to its publication in the Federal
Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Lead, Lead-based paint, Grants, Indians,
Native Americans, Maternal and child health, Tribal.
Dated: June 23, 2005.
Margaret Schneider,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05-12953 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S